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September 2012 - Just the Facts

Summary

Total cases receiving Public Assistance in Illinois increased by 7,841 (14,581 persons) in September 2012. SNAP cases were primarily responsible for the increase. Aided cases numbered 1,701,409 (3,052,426 persons), up 4.0 percent from year-earlier totals.

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

Benefits

Total TANF Benefits: A 136 case (486 person) increase left a total 50,358 families (130,205 persons) receiving TANF benefits in September. The caseload was 5.7 percent higher than the September 2011 total.

"0" Grant Cases: There were 4,169 "0" grant cases (11,594 persons) included this month, down 52 cases and up 75 persons from August 2012.

Two-Parent Cases: Two-parent cases dropped by 12(29 persons) to a total of 1,419 cases (5,991 persons) in September 2012.

TANF Program Detail

Applications: The number of TANF applications received in September dropped by 1,278 to a total of 9,381. Both new applications and re-applications decreased. Receipts included: 8,212 applications for the Basic sector and 1,169 applications for the two-parent sector. There were 2,705 applications pending for the combined program this month, a decrease of 233 from August levels.

Approvals: There were 3,175 assistance approvals this month, including 2,134 new grants (down 262 from September 2012) and 1,041 reinstatements (up 11). A reinstatement is defined as approval of any case that was active within the previous 24 months.

Reasons for Case Openings

There were 3,369 September 2012 TANF openings for which reasons were available, up 1,004 from the August level. This total includes 3,203 cases from the Basic sector and 166 cases from the two-parent sector. Reasons for opening cases included the following:

REASONS FOR CASE OPENINGS

% OF TOTAL CASE OPENINGS

Reinstatement after remedying Previous non-cooperation

1.4

Living below agency standards

82.2

Loss of employment

0.8

Loss of other benefits

1.7

Parent leaving home

0.1

Increased medical needs

4.7

Loss of unemployment benefits

4.4

All other reasons

4.7

Reasons for Case Closings

Reasons were available for 3,024 September 2012 TANF case closings - up by 9 cases from August. This total includes 2,854 cases from the Basic sector and 170 cases from the two-parent sector. Reasons for closing cases included the following:

REASONS FOR CASE CLOSINGS

% OF TOTAL CASE CLOSINGS

Earned Income

30.5

Other Financial

3.8

Non-compliance*

35.0

Non-financial

30.7

* 48 cases canceled in August 2012 for non-compliance related reasons were reinstated by September 2012 after complying. These cases had no break in assistance.

Assistance to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD)

The total number of September 2012 AABD cases was down 742 or 2.5 percent from the number of cases a year earlier. The decrease was largely attributable to Disability Assistance, where the number of cases fell 453 or 1.9 percent from September 2011 levels.

One-Person AABD Cases: One-person cases receiving grants through AABD dropped by 154 in September to a total of 28,693. This total includes 5,312 persons who qualified for Old Age Assistance; 105 persons who qualified for Blind Assistance; and 23,276 persons who qualified for Disability Assistance.

"0" Grant Status: Persons in "0" grant status fell by 12 to 1,899.

State Supplemental Payments: Individuals receiving State Supplemental Payments were up 51 to 26,936.

Medical Assistance - No Grant

Family Health Plan clients were responsible for a decrease of 1,175 cases counted as receiving Medical Assistance in September 2012. Persons increased by 3,552. This resulted in a program total of 1,294,155 cases (2,482,349 persons).

MANG: MANG recipients represent 76 percent of total cases and 81 percent of total persons. MANG cases increased 0.9 percent from their September 2011 levels, when they represented 78 percent of all cases.

Family Health Plans: Families decreased by 814 to 776,826 in September 2012.

AABD Clients: AABD clients who were categorically qualified for Medical Only rose by 592 to 467,706 one-person cases. This total includes 147,309 cases for which Qualified Medical Beneficiary (QMB) payments were made, and 36,427 beneficiaries of Specified Low Income Beneficiary (SLIB) payments for Medicare coverage. AABD Group Care clients totaled 66,628.

Foster Care: Foster Care Assistance aided 44,236 children during this time period.

GA: State funding for new General Assistance (GA) cases was eliminated July 1, 2012. Adults no longer receive Medical Assistance. They are in Zero Grant status until their next SNAP recertification. Children still receive medical assistance until their transfer to a TANF case. In September 2012, a total 5,117 one-person cases received medical assistance through Transitional Assistance (TA). The number of families receiving medical assistance through Family and Children's Assistance (F&CA) totaled 270 (344 persons).

P3 Cases: Cash Assistance for Chicago PE cases was also eliminated July 1, 2011. These are disabled one-person cases with SSI applications or appeals pending. A total of 156 P3 cases were aided in September.

Applications - All Programs

In September 2012, application receipts for all programs excluding SNAP decreased by 8,929 to a total of 61,730. This count includes: 47,885 applications for Medical Assistance, 9,381 for TANF, and 4,464 for AABD grants. SNAP applications received through Intake and Income Maintenance decreased by 29,852 to 117,978.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP Assistance was given to 975,271 Illinois households in September 2012. Of this total, 647,383 households also received cash or medical assistance through other public assistance programs.

There were 327,888 additional households not receiving other Public Assistance, which receive Non-Assistance SNAP administered by the Department of Human Services.

AllKids (KidCare)

KidCare, which began in January 1998, extends Medical coverage by expanding income eligibility standards (based upon the Federal Poverty Level) for pregnant women, infants born to Medical-eligible pregnant women, and certain other children under the age of 19.

Between January 5, 1998 and September 1, 2012 a total of 116,209 TANF-Medical Only persons were enrolled in KidCare Phase I due to this expansion of eligibility. Included in this total are 6,726 in the Moms and Babies program and 109,483 in the Assist program.

Cases ineligible for Medicaid due to excess income may be eligible for KidCare Phase II. October 1998 was the first month of enrollment. Phase II also requires co-pays and sometimes premiums. KidCare Share and KidCare Premium provide essentially the same benefits as Medical Assistance. A total of 28,642 Share and 28,413 Premium persons had enrolled by September 1. KidCare Rebate reimburses for a portion of health insurance premiums paid for eligible children. Rebate persons totaled 441.

Child Care

Child Care Services are available to families with income below 50 percent of the state median. Families must be working or enrolled in approved education or training activities. Families cost-share with co-payments based on income, family size and number of children in care. Services are delivered through a certificate program and a site-administered contract system.

The Certificate Program eligibility is determined by resource and referral agencies. Parents choose subsidized full or part-time care from any legal care provider that meets their needs. Providers include child-care centers, family homes, group child-care home and in-home and relative care. In September 2012, an estimated 151,911 children were served by certificate.

The Site-Administered Contract Program serves families through a statewide network of contracted licensed centers and family homes. Families apply for care directly with the contracted providers and eligibility is determined on-site by the provider. In September 2012 an estimated 6,609 children were served by contract.

The Migrant Head Start Program provides child care and health and social services for preschool children of migrant and seasonal farm workers. Services are provided by local community based agencies. The program is federally funded and serves approximately 450 children during the harvest season.

Emergency Food, Shelter and Support

Homeless families and individuals receive food, shelter and support services through local not-for-profit organizations. A "continuum of care" includes emergency and transitional housing and assistance in gaining self-sufficiency and permanent housing.

The Emergency and Transitional Housing Program served 5,609 households in shelters during April-June 2012. Of those, 1,392 were households with children.

The Emergency Food Program served 753,336 households from April-June 2012.

The Homeless Prevention Program helps families in existing homes and helps others secure affordable housing. During April-June 2012, 946 households were served. Of those, 568 were families (Households with children under age 18).

The Supportive Housing Program funds governments and agencies which serve families and transitional facility residents. In April-June 2012, 883,080 nights of Supportive Housing were provided.

The Refugee and Immigrant Citizenship Initiative funds the provision of English language, civics and U.S. history instruction as well as application services. During April-June 2012, 1,727 clients had received instruction and 1,037 were assisted with their citizenship applications.

Of the refugees served, 350 entered employment, and 214 retained jobs 90 days. The average wage earned was $9.01 an hour. 212 received health benefits and 154 had their cash assistance terminated in the February-May 2012 period.

The Outreach and Interpretation project assures access to IDHS benefits. In the April-June 2012 quarter, 14,997 clients received case management, 2,363 received interpreter service, and 8,352 received translation service.

During the May - June 2011 period, the five suburban health clinics served 7,585 uninsured immigrants.

Social Service Block Grants

Service funding is provided through the Federal Title XX Social Services Block Grant to manage and monitor contracts which help customers achieve economic self-support and prevent or remedy abuse and neglect.

Crisis Nurseries served an estimated 509 customers during the April -June 2012 quarter.

Early Intervention (EI)

The Illinois Early Intervention program serves Children under three years of age who are experiencing developmental delays in one or more of the following areas: cognitive development; physical development; language and speech development; psychosocial development; and self-help skills. Early Intervention is part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA Part C) which covers both Part C infants and toddlers as well as Part B Special Education. Annually Early intervention serves approximately 20,000 children across the state and maintains 25 Child and Family Connections (CFC) Offices throughout the state to handle referrals, program intake, and service coordination for children with Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP's).

Early Intervention services include, but are not limited to: developmental evaluations and assessments, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, developmental therapy, service coordination, psychological services and social work services. The cost of some services are paid by the program and provided to families at no cost. These include evaluation, assessment, development of a service plan, and service coordination. Ongoing Early Intervention services are paid for by the family's health insurance, when appropriate, government insurance (Kid Care), and program funds. Families contribute to the cost of services by paying fees based on a sliding scale.

Program Statistics

Indicator

January 2012

SFY 12 Average to Date

SFY 2011 Average

Referrals

3,255

2,708

2,763

Active IFSP's

18,775

18,855

18,723

0-3 Participation Rate

3.43%

3.45%

3.42%

Under 1 Participation Rate

1.02%

1.06%

1.10%

% With Medicaid

50.8%

50.7%

49.6%

% With Insurance

36.3%

36.6%

36.9%

% With Fees

27.9%

27.8%

27.7%

What's New in Early Intervention

Currently the Early Intervention program is reviewing and implementing new federal regulations that were released late 2011. This review will also involve a complete review and updating of the CFC Policies and Procedures Manual to ensure compliance with all new or modified regulations. All required revisions must be in place by July 1, 2012.

Women Infants and Children (WIC)

The purpose of WIC is to provide supplemental foods, nutrition education and breastfeeding promotion and support, and referral/access to health services for income eligible pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding women, infants and children. The program has been housed under the Department of Human Services for the last 14 years. In order to be eligible, participants must be at 185% of the federal poverty level; be a resident of the State of Illinois; and must be categorically eligible (pregnant, breastfeeding postpartum, non breastfeeding postpartum, Infants (0-1), Children (1-5).

Program Statistics

Eligibility Category

Clients in January

Pregnant Women

32,429

Breastfeeding Women

16,690

Postpartum Women

18,972

Infants

76,982

Children

147,321

What's New in WIC

PCS/PCE is in McLean, St. Clair, Kane, Lake Counties and the Roseland WIC Clinic in Chicago.

Participant-Centered Nutrition Education (PCE) is a comprehensive, outcome-based model developed by Altarum Institute to promote the adoption of positive nutrition- and health-related behaviors by Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) families. PCE is a comprehensive systems change model for participant interaction that touches upon all aspects of WIC functions and service delivery. PCE puts the participant at the core of WIC service delivery and targets the most important determinants of behavior change: self-efficacy, skill building, and readiness to change. PCE focuses on a person's capacities, strengths and developmental needs, rather than solely on problems, risks or negative behaviors.

Within the PCE framework, the participant and the WIC staff form a partnership to engage in interactive discussions based on the particular needs and circumstances of the participant. This approach contrasts with the traditional, didactic WIC assessment and education model, which places the nutrition educator in an authoritative position, providing information and direction to the participant. Although the didactic approach is somewhat successful in delivering information and increasing nutrition knowledge, it is less effective at promoting real behavior change.

Family Case Management

The program target population is low income families (below 200% of the federal poverty level) with a pregnant woman, an infant or a child with a high-risk condition. The goals of the program are to help women have healthy babies and to reduce the rates of infant mortality and very low birth weight. To achieve these goals the program conducts outreach activities to inform expectant women and new mothers of available services and then assists them with obtaining prenatal and well-child care. The program works with community agencies to address barriers to accessing medical services, such as child care, transportation, housing, food, mental health needs and substance abuse services. Services are provided statewide through local health departments, federally qualified health centers and community-based organizations. Home visits by a public health nurse are provided to the families of infants with medical problems.

Program Statistics

Category

Medicaid

Non-Medicaid

Cook County

Children

10,920

2,573

Infants

23,257

2,655

Pregnant

12,052

1,342

Downstate

Children

18,343

2,581

Infants

39,600

3,256

Pregnant

20,747

1,509

Statewide

Children

29,263

5,154

Infants

62,857

5,911

Pregnant

32,799

2,851

Program Accomplishments

Family Case Management has contributed to the overall reduction in the state's infant mortality and has reduced expenditures for medical assistance during the first year of life. Program outcomes are more effective in the integrated system of Family Case Management and WIC. Recent statistics show:

The infant mortality rate is 50 to 70% lower

The rate of premature birth is 60 to 70% lower

Medicaid expenditures for health care in the first year of life are up to 50% lower

Participation in WIC and FCM saves Illinois an average of $200 million each year in Medicaid expenses